Money, cards and ATMs in Myanmar

Cash, and specifically dollars

• Myanmar is largely a cash-based society and there is significant disruption to banking services. Expect to rely on cash for most of the trip.
• Many ATMs do not accept UK or international bank cards, and some banks cap daily withdrawals.
• Visa is more widely accepted than Mastercard, and even then, phone ahead to check a hotel or restaurant can actually take a card before you rely on it.
• Electronic payments and transfers mostly work, but many commercial outlets take cash only.

The condition of your notes is not a detail

• You can change US dollars into kyat, including at banks, though some money changers have closed under pressure from the authorities.
• Check your dollars are in good condition: no pen marks, no folds, no tears. Counters inspect notes carefully.
• High denomination bills are preferred.
• Counters may refuse dollars whose serial number begins with the letters AB or CB, in the top left corner of the note, because of counterfeit concerns. That is a specific, checkable thing to do before you leave home.

Two payments you cannot make in kyat

• A visa overstay fine must be paid in US dollars.
• Excess baggage on departure must be paid in US dollars.
• Keep enough dollars back for the airport rather than changing everything into kyat on arrival.

Declaring money and valuables

• More than 10,000 US dollars' worth of any foreign currency must be declared to customs on arrival, and the FCDO's stated consequence of not doing so is imprisonment, not a fine.
• Declare gold, gems and jewellery on arrival. Local authorities actively monitor the import, export, possession and trading of these, and you risk arrest.
• Do not buy gems, gold or semi-precious stones from an unlicensed source. You could lose the money or be drawn into an illegal act.